MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

January 20, 2004

Monadnock Regional Junior and Senior High School Library, Swanzey, N.H.

Present: Don Arguin, Dixie Gurian, Chair Robin Marra, Sam Johnson, Winston Wright, Alan Gross, Karen Cota, Gus Lerandeau, John Morin, Richard Thackston, William Felton, Larry Colby, Colline Dreyfuss and Bruce Tatro. Absent: Patricia Smith.

Also present: C. Cardine, Supt., K. Dassau, Asst. Supt., L. Biron, Business Manager and T. Warner, Tech. Director. Principals: B. Tatro, S. Rashid, D. Mousette, Kim Carter and D. Stockwell. Student Council Representative: C. Castonguay.

R. Marra reminded the Board why they are here: To strive for the best education for every child.

R. Marra asked the public to sign up on the sheet if they would like to speak.

1. CONSENT AGENDA:

Minutes of January 5, 2004 Board Meeting. MOTION: G. Lerandeau MOVED to approve the minutes. SECOND: W. Felton DISCUSSION: C. Dreyfuss wanted to clarify the minutes to say that when discussing building capacity she was referring to the Accreditation Report. Under Public Comments, N. Moriarty had commented about the middle school issue but was not taking a position. VOTE: 13.118/0/1.179/.703. Motion Passes.

CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: C. Cardine informed the Board that he was handing out a letter praising the high school from a parent but because the student name is involved he did not read it aloud.

C. Cardine said that there are two bills coming up that would have an adverse effect on how adequacy is funded, CACR2 and HB1281 copies were passed out to the board.

R. Marra announced that an error was made in the Keene Sentinel about the vacant seats in the Monadnock School District. He said that there are 7 seats open on the School Board, Gilsum, Sullivan, Roxbury, 3 at Swanzey and Troy. Seats open for the Budget Committee are Troy, 2 at Swanzey, Roxbury, Gilsum and Sullivan.

W. Felton asked that the second sheet on the agenda be updated with the correct committee dates.

2. STUDENT COUNCIL CONCERNS: C. Catonguay informed the Board that the sophomores and juniors are involved with the Keene Rotary Club volunteering at the Community Kitchen. He also said that the junior high dances have lack of student chaperones. They may make it a requirement. R. Marra asked if there were enough adult chaperones and C. Castonguay answered yes.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: R. Bauries asked why the $250,000.00 for the Cutler Project was still in the warrant article. C. Cardine explained that the administration could not change the article until it was an official Board action. R. Bauries asked if it would be attended to and recommended to what the Budget Committee recommended.

N. Moriarty asked if Warrant Article One has been passed to DRA for modification. L. Biron said it has not been signed it is in draft form. N. Moriarty asked if DRA approved all the articles. L. Biron said they are dictated by the attorney. N. Moriarty asked if DRA approved the changes. He said that the Budget Committee voted Warrant Article One to be for $25,800,000.00. R. Marra said that $26,769,946.00 is the amount on the MS-27. L. Biron said he does not see a problem. R. Marra commented that the concern is noted.

MOTION: D. Arguin MOVED to change the agenda and move the 21^st Century Report. SECOND: A. Gross. VOTE: 14.297/0/0/.703. Motion passes.

21^st Century Report: S. Rashid passed out a packet to the Board. The packet contained the Cutler School Goals for 2003-2004. He explained that goal #3 and goal #4 are what the presentation is about. He explained the PBIS and how it is working for the students and how the school was asked to participate. The results have shown that the program works. L. Colby asked if the school is looking at getting the information out to the homes. S. Rashid explained that the information is on the web page. A. Gross said that he noticed that the Cutler Staff is friendly and welcoming to the parents and the children when the students are being dropped off. He said that he really appreciates it.

R. Marra commented that J. Morin (board member) recently played hockey against the Boston Bruin Legends for a local fundraiser.

5. Other School Board Business:

A. Board Committee Reports:

1. Community Relations Committee: D. Gurian explained that the committee met and reflected as adults to remember to be civil and act civil because there are children watching. The committee talked about the Feb. 7, 2004 meeting and the public meetings at the high school and the Northern School. At these meetings they would discuss the budget and encourage people to vote. The next meeting is at 5:30 PM on Jan. 27, 2004 at the high school.

2. Facilities Committee: G. Lerandeau reported that the committee met and received a 6 page letter from the architect on what it would take to bring the high school up to snuff. He explained that a set of plans are needed. He said that the committee voted unanimously to pass the issue to the Finance Committee. They also voted to send the modification of the cafeteria and deli expansion issue to the Finance Committee. The Facilities Committee felt that the Cutler project did not include specifics and it was premature. They would like another year and get public input. He said that repair work on the roof and the water need to be addressed. The next meeting would be Feb. 2, 2004 at 8:30 AM in the Maintenance Building. W. Felton asked if the items were prioritized because of limited funds. G. Lerandeau said that they would get the list for the Finance Committee and the cafeteria is number 1 on the list.

3.Finance Committee: R. Marra reported that the committee has not met and would be meeting on Fri. Jan. 30, 2004 at 8:45 AM at the Maintenance Building. They will be reviewing 3 items from the Facilities Committee.

4. Policy Committee: D. Arguin explained that the committee did not meet, a future meeting would be discussed at the break.

New Business: 2004-2005- Calendar: C. Cardine directed the Board’s attention to the 2004-2005 calendar. He said that this is a collaboration of Monadnock, Keene and Fall Mountain. A. Gross asked the impact on the CCC schedule. C. Cardine said that only 2 days conflict. MOTION: W. Felton. MOVED to accept the 2004-2005 school calendar as presented. DISCUSSION: D. Arguin commented that he did not agree with the totals, these are being checked. K. Cota asked if they ever thought about combining the February and April vacation, have one vacation in March and have the children released early. A. Gross commented that the school has to have the same days as the area schools especially for CCC. L. Colby said that we are dealing with other schools in the district, we all need to agree. The school Board could agree. K. Dassau said that it was squashed 2 or 3 years ago in Keene. D. Arguin said that they should talk about more instructional days. R. Marra said that it is a negotiation item. VOTE: 14.297/0/0/.703. Motion passes. MOTION: D. Gurian MOVED to appoint C. Dreyfuss to the Negotiation Committee and to the Policy Committee. SECOND: C. Dreyfuss. VOTE: 13.276/0/1.021/.703. Motion passes.

MOTION: R. Thackston MOVED to charge the Negotiation Committee or a subcommittee of to prepare the evaluation of the Superintendent. VOTE: 13.521/0/.776/.703. Motion passes. W. Felton feels it appropriate that the committee present to the Board a set of criteria. R. Marra explained that there is a policy in the manual for the evaluation. R. Thackston said that it is a very specific personnel review from the NHSBA.

Old Business: 2004-2005: C. Cardine passed out information to the Board dealing with the $970,000.00 difference. He explained the salary of the staff and explained that the $750,000.00 cut in salaries would cut more than the number of teachers mentioned. C. Dreyfuss said that N. Moriarty brought up the 26 million-dollars is the difference. Can we account for the $970,000.00 differently. She said she understands it is an in and out thing. C. Cardine said he would take it out but would need to have it explained where the $970,000.00 needs to be cut from as he received no direction for that additional sum being cut. L. Biron said that the Budget Committee’s $25,800,000.00 does not include the $970,000.00. D. Arguin asked if it takes the revenue. C. Cardine said that it does, if we lose the program and Cutler project we need to reduce the revenue side by $400,000.00. D. Arguin said that it would be cuts in people, loss in revenue and grants. C. Cardine said that is correct. D. Arguin asked if it was 10 teachers and 25 aides. C. Cardine said he never said that. D. Arguin said if you start cutting you may have to cut 15 or 20 teachers. C. Cardine said that if the Budget Committee’s budget passes in March everyone on staff would have to be pink slipped as it would be impossible to determine specific staff that would be cut in time for contractual notification. D. Arguin said that the Budget Committee voted as a guide-line and then came back and added 1.8 million-dollars in cuts. You would think that it would be close. Not sure how they can come and say cut 1.8 million dollars, not even close. R. Thackston said that the food service is an oversight. L. Biron said that he did not assume that the Budget Committee was talking about the $25,800,000.00 as the operating budget. L. Biron said that it is a separate item on page 4 and not part of the operating budget. Every year it is a problem. R. Thackston suggested that we need to look for options. L. Biron said that if the Board goes for the $25,800,000.00 they would have to find $970,000.00 in cuts for the MS-27. L. Biron would be seeking legal advice. R. Marra explained that the second evening of the Budget meeting the committee did not want to visit the public hearing because they did not want to open it up to public comments. W. Felton said that he wasn’t sure if it is legal but he would like to get the budget back to a higher number. MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to change Warrant Article One to $28,569,946.00. NO SECOND. W. Felton explained that he was against the 4% increased budget and against going to the Budget Committee with a low number. The suggestion by the Budget Committee is just a suggestion we as a Board decide. R. Marra explained that any changes have to be made at the Deliberative Session. R. Marra said that the Board really needs legal guidance on the $970,000.00 issue. W. Wright commented that the intent of the Budget Committee is to make the Board suffer. The correction needs to be made at the Deliberative Session. L. Biron said that none of the numbers line up without the $970,000 included. S. Johnson asked if the Board needs to have a special meeting for the new number. L. Biron said that you could not vote on the numbers in the MS-27. R. Marra said that the Board does not want to take act before hearing from counsel.

R. Marra explained that the Budget Committee changed Warrant Article Five from $80,000.00 to $40,000.00 for Cutler. The Board took no action. The article will go ahead as written. Warrant Article Six was reduced by the Budget Committee and the Facilities Committee voted to take it out. R. Marra would entertain a motion. C. Dreyfuss questioned the MS-27. She said that the Budget Committee has signed the MS27. R. Marra said that they have signed it and later disagreed with it. MOTION: G. Lerandeau MOVED to change Warrant Article Six to $340,000.00.SECOND: B. Tatro. DISCUSSION: W. Felton asked if it means that the money would go toward the high school. R. Marra commented that the Board did not say that. W. Felton said that you would think this money would go toward the high school. W. Wright explained that it was recommended not to do the Cutler project but the amount could be changed at the Deliberative Session. VOTE: 13.118/1.179/0/.703. Motion passes. R. Marra asked if there are any more questions on the 2004-2005 Budget. A. Gross asked if action would be taken at the district meeting on Warrant Article Five. R. Marra said that anyone has the opportunity to change the figure. L. Colby asked about the asbestos. R. Marra said that the Budget Committee said to remove it from Cutler. L. Colby asked if it was less harmful at the high school. L. Biron said that Warrant Article Five should not have reference to the jr./sr. high school. A. Gross said to restore to original amount. L.Biron said that it is already $80,000.00. W. Felton commented on Warrant Article Nine. He asked if the article passes does that mean that the school can not close but be used for some other education purpose. R. Marra explained that the Board does not take a position on petitioned articles, historically. R. Thackston commented on the prices of houses in the area and asked when it would impact us with the state. L. Biron said that part of the discussion is the certification process of assessments. He said that everyone has gone up so we are al the same but the numbers are higher.

Curriculum Report: No report

E. 21^st Century Report: Report given earlier on agenda.

F. Action on the Manifest: MOTION: G. Lerandeau MOVED the manifest in the amount of $2,326,770.12. SECOND: W. Felton. VOTE: 12.871/0/1.426/.703. Motion passes.

6. Superintendent’s Report: No report.

7. PUBLIC COMMENTS: G. White asked if there was a bond article would it require a high percentage to pass. He also commented on the population growth. He commented on the apartment buildings that are being constructed

D. Connell asked how many students from Winchester are attending MRHS. C. Cardine explained that 6 students are from Winchester. They are in the senior class and Monadnock is receiving $8,000.00 for each student. D. Connell said that the school is overcrowded but the district would take more kids. D. Connell said that it is an oxymoron. C. Cardine commented that the senior class has room for additional students and that the district gains funds that come right off the tax rate by taking in these students.

8. Board Chair Report: R. Marra passed a letter to the Board in which he would be sending to the Keene Sentinel. He asked that members sign if they wish but it is not for discussion.

K. Cota asked if a meeting needed to be called because of the legal information. R. Marra would be contacting the Board.

9. SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:

1. Committee Reports

2. MC2 Report

3. 2004-2005 Budget

10. NON PUBLIC SESSION

9:20 PM S. Johnson MOVED to enter into non-public session for the purpose of approving the minutes of the non-public session on December 16, 2003 and personnel. SECOND : W. Wright VOTE : 13.118/0/1.179/.703 Motion Passes.

9:30 MOTION: G.Lerandeau MOVED to return to public session and to seal this portion of the non-public minutes indefinitely. SECOND: D. Thackston. VOTE: Unanimous for those present.

11. Adjournment: 9:31 PM G. Lerandeau MOVED to adjourn. SECOND: D. Gurian. VOTE: Unanimous for those present.

Respectfully submitted,

Laura Aivaliotis

MRSD Board Secretary